This morning we have an early breakfast at the hotel in Ruhengeri and head to the park headquarters in nearby Kinigi.
Arriving at the administrative centre your guide takes care of the formalities and the park rangers brief you on the gorilla trek ahead. After the briefing, you set off into the park in groups of eight, with your rangers leading the way. As you walk through the dense afro-montane forests on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains, you encounter all kinds of exotic animals and plants, including many rare and endangered species. Keep an eye out for various primates, antelopes, insects, small animals and the wide variety of birds found here.
Volcanoes Park hosts ten gorilla groups that can be visited – the most groups of habituated gorillas on the planet. We walk at a slow pace, stopping for breaks, if necessary. The trek can take anything from half an hour up to seven hours, depending on where your gorilla group is located. Trekking can be arduous, especially if your route takes in steep slopes. The rainy seasons are generally more challenging periods for trekking (April to May and November), but the gorillas tend to descend to the lower mountain slopes during the rains.
Once we reach our group of gorillas we stop and spend time watching them in the forest. This one-of-a-kind wildlife experience is rated as one of the ultimate animal encounters on earth!
The encounter lasts for one hour and is guided by the rules and etiquette of gorilla trekking as per the morning briefing. You are allowed to take photos, but flash photography is not permitted. These endangered primates are gentle and relatively docile, making them easy to watch at close range. We watch the mountain gorillas eat, sleep and play. The giant apes often watch visitors with curiosity, especially the young gorillas. After our captivating hour with these giant primates, we move off slowly and quietly.
Making our way back to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters your guide transfers you back to our accommodation, where dinner is served. Spend the evening resting and recounting your magical time with the African mountain gorillas of Rwanda.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner